Moscow to fingerprint foreigners from 2017

Starting from 2017, all foreign nationals arriving in Russia will be fingerprinted, Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Gorovoi said on Thursday, reports TASS.

“The Interior Ministry intends to fingerprint all foreigners who arrive in Russia starting from the next year,” Mr Gorovoi said at a meeting of the Federal Council, adding he is thankful to his foreign colleagues who understand the necessity of this measure.

The initiative is yet to be discussed in more details with Russian Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs including those from the CIS countries, according to Alexander Gorovoi.

The initiative to fingerprint foreign nationals arriving in Russia was earlier put forward by the Civic Chamber as an additional counter-terrorism measure.